Tell Us Again, What 'Race' Is Islam?

An application asking to change the use of Stafford House, in Bonnetts Lane, Crawley, was before Horsham District Council’s planning committee on Tuesday (November 6).

It included proposals to extend the house and link it to a two-storey meeting hall, which would be built on the same site.

The committee had refused an almost identical application in January, with concerns raised about traffic and the impact the plans would have on neighbouring homes.

Well, why not just keep on and on until you get what you want? It seems to be the way a lot of people view the planning application system.

And if they refuse you, cry 'Racism!!':

With officers recommending this latest application also be refused, they were accused of being ‘hell bent on refusing this development on grounds that just don’t hold water’.

The accusation was made by Simon Brett, agent for the applicant, who told the meeting that a letter had been circulated, encouraging objections ‘on grounds that it is for a mosque’, which he felt was ‘verging on racist’.

If it's anything, it's 'religionist'. The applicants will understand that, since they practice it themselves:

A report put before the meeting explained that, for the past five years, the Shia community had been renting community and leisure centres in Crawley when hosting events, and was in need of a dedicated place of education and worship.

It added: “While there are other mosques within Crawley, these are used by Sunni Muslims who, although celebrating the same events within the Islamic calendar, do not undertake prayers and meetings together.”

They can't get on with each other? Well, how the hell is that anyone else's problem?